MRAA names director of membership and marketing

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas hired Liz Walz as the organization's director of membership and marketing.

“Liz and I have had a long working relationship together, and I’m absolutely thrilled to add her passion and enthusiasm for the marine industry to the MRAA team,” MRAA president Matt Gruhn said in a statement. “There are very few people who are as passionate about the marine industry and the dealer body in particular than Liz has proven to be, and that, along with her well-known communication skills, makes her the ideal person for this position and this association in general.”

Walz has spent the majority of her career at Boating Industry, which she joined in 1999. At the magazine, she led the editorial team's efforts and helped to create and produce the Top 100 Dealers Program and the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, in addition to being a central contributor to the print and online editorial efforts for the better part of the last 10 years. She left the publication at the end of April.

Walz has served on the MRAA’s Young Leaders Advisory Council since its inception. As the only non-dealer to ever sit on that council, she played a significant role in its development, as well as that of a handful of committees.

“I am delighted to join the MRAA during such an exciting time in the association’s growth,” Walz said in a statement. “This move is a natural one for me. Throughout my career I’ve been inspired by the hard work, innovation and professionalism of today’s marine retailers. The opportunity to serve this group and contribute to a bright future for the boating business alongside Matt, whose work I have long admired and respected, is a dream come true.”

The Marine Industries Association of South Florida and the Marine Industry Cares Foundation, organizers of the 41st Annual Broward County Waterway Cleanup held on March 3, collected 32 tons of trash from 31 sites around the county.